The AI in Business Podcast

• Why Service Teams Outgrow DIY AI Solutions - with Neil Bhandar of Generac

  Today’s guest is Neil Bhandar, Chief Data Analytics Officer for Generac. Neil brings decades of experience in artificial intelligence, from academic research to enterprise-scale implementation across manufacturing and financial services. He joins Emerj Managing Editor Matt DeMello to explore the hidden costs of building AI in-house, the risks of over-relying on large models, and how service organizations can deploy GenAI to improve efficiency and preserve institutional knowledge. Neil shares how GenAI is helping field teams access hard-to-find information in real-time — reducing the need for costly site visits and accelerating issue resolution. He also explains why human empathy remains essential in last-mile service roles, even as AI tools take on more diagnostic and decision-making responsibilities. Finally, Neil offers practical advice for enterprise leaders evaluating AI partnerships — emphasizing cultural alignment, modularity, and the need to protect what makes their organizations uniquely competitive. This episode is sponsored by Aquant. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the ‘AI in Business’ podcast!

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• Inside the AI Playbook for Scientific Discovery and Optimization - with Brian Lutz of Corteva

  As global food demand accelerates, the agricultural sector faces rising pressure to innovate faster, safer, and more sustainably. Today’s guest on the ‘AI in Business’ podcast is Brian Lutz, the Vice President of Agricultural Solutions at Corteva Agriscience, the world’s leading pure-play seed and crop protection company. Brian joins Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello to discuss their partnership with Deloitte to drive AI for discovery across biology and chemistry in agriculture. He explains how Corteva integrates AI into every phase of R&D — from genetic optimization in seeds to molecule discovery in crop protection. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the ‘AI in Business’ podcast! This episode is sponsored by Deloitte. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

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• Why Immutable Snapshots Matter for Compliance and AI - with Neil Bhandar of Generac

  Neil Bhandar, Chief Data Analytics Officer for Generac. Generac is a U.S.-based industrial manufacturer that designs and produces a wide range of power solutions—including portable, residential standby, commercial, and industrial generators, along with automatic transfer switches and related accessories. Neil joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello on today’s show to explore how companies can make smarter decisions around compute and storage—without falling into the trap of overbuilding for marginal gains. Drawing from his deep background in both business and analytics, Bhandar explains why many infrastructure conversations go off-course by starting with technical specs instead of strategic outcomes. He shares real-world examples of when less compute — and less data — actually delivers more value and why thinking in 3–6 month increments is key to making sustainable, cost-effective choices in today’s fast-moving AI landscape. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the ‘AI in Business’ podcast! This episode is sponsored by Pure Storage. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

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• AI for Driving Quality Customer Interactions in Distributor Models - with Joshua Haddock of Herbalife

  Today’s guest is Josh Haddock, Director of Contact Center Technology at Herbalife. Herbalife is a global health and wellness company that develops and sells nutritional products, personal care items, and weight management solutions through a network of independent distributors. With operations in over 90 countries, Herbalife combines direct selling with a strong focus on community, personal coaching, and customer education. Josh joins the program to share how his team is redefining customer and distributor support in a highly relationship-driven business. Josh explains why adopting AI in the contact center starts with understanding the full journey—from digital engagement to live conversations—and why personalization is about more than just using someone’s name. He also contrasts Herbalife’s service model with his experience in financial services, where interactions are more transactional and easier to automate. The discussion highlights how Herbalife is leveraging AI for internal efficiencies like call summarization while carefully evaluating the risks and transparency challenges of deploying generative AI directly to distributors. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the ‘AI in Business’ podcast! If you’ve enjoyed or benefited from some of the insights of this episode, consider leaving us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you learned, found helpful, or liked most about this show!

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• Breaking the Doom Loop in IT Service Management - with Phil Christianson of Xurrent

  Today’s guest is Phil Christianson, Chief Product Officer at Xurrent. Xurrent is an IT service management platform that helps large organizations coordinate incident response and improve system reliability. They serve clients across healthcare, government, and financial services and are known for their focus on post-incident accountability and automation. Phil joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello on today’s episode to explore how AI can help break this cycle and build lasting resilience, drawing from years of experience in fintech, e-commerce, and enterprise IT. Phil outlines how war rooms — once a necessary constant in tech operations—are evolving with automation and machine learning, enabling faster response times, cleaner postmortems, and real accountability. He emphasizes how IT’s central role in most organizations uniquely positions the function to lead AI adoption — provided the right technology, executive backing, and cultural readiness are in place. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the ‘AI in Business’ podcast! This episode is sponsored by Xurrent. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

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